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Detroit Pistons 2020 Draft profile: Kentucky’s Tyrese Maxey

By Blake Stackpoole

LEXINGTON, KY - JANUARY 04: Tyrese Maxey #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats brings the ball up court during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Rupp Arena on January 4, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - JANUARY 04: Tyrese Maxey #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats brings the ball up court during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Rupp Arena on January 4, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – DECEMBER 28: Tyrese Maxey #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrates during the2 78-70 OT win against the Louisville Cardinals at Rupp Arena on December 28, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – DECEMBER 28: Tyrese Maxey #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrates during the2 78-70 OT win against the Louisville Cardinals at Rupp Arena on December 28, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Maxey’s strengths

A stat that doesn’t really show up in the stat sheet is his ability to come through in the clutch. Against top 5 ranked teams, Maxey put up 26 points against Michigan State, 15 points against Ohio State, and 27 points against Louisville. When Kentucky needs a basket, the ball is in Maxey’s hands where he’s clutch.

Being a University of Michigan fan, watching him hit a step-back jumper against MSU to win the game made me think of Kyrie Irving’s NBA Finals winning shot. Obviously, that’s a little bit of an overreaction but scoring 26 points and hitting the game-winner as a freshman against the No. 1 team at Madison Square Garden on national television is hard to do and Maxey made it look easy.

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He is a lethal shooter who has NBA range and is a master of the step-back jumper. With his elite quick first step, there are flashes of De’Aaron Fox as he slashes to the basket, where he has a bag of tricks to finish at the rim. His speed and ability to attack the rim could pair well with one of the best NBA pick-and-roll centers in Andre Drummond or with Christian Wood next season.

Maxey’s shot selection is similar to the modern NBA where he shoots 3-pointers or layups or floaters in the paint. He has the shooting of Darius Garland, with deep range and quick release. The NBA is a 3-point shooting league so Tyrese’s shooting and age will make him a lottery pick.